Food Webs Lesson for Middle School Ecology Science Class

This is a food web lesson that runs well with middle level students. The lesson follows a printed work bundle where students record notes, answer questions, and reactions to the food web activity.

The food web activity has the students record the name of an animal on a note card and sit in a circle. The teacher then begins the process of connecting string to the organisms that rely on each other. I have the students use a plastic coat hanger so the sting doesn't hurt their fingers / hand. The web becomes quite complex. The teacher then cuts the string from certain species (removed from ecosystem for various reasons such as loss of habitat) and the web collapses.

This lesson is one small part of a much larger Ecology Unit called the Ecology Interactions Unit.

1. Food Webs Part 1 Lesson 9

2. RED SLIDE: These slides contain critical notes and important fill-in the blanks. Please record the important terms in your work bundle. First and last Name Science, Grade, Class

3. RED SLIDE: These slides contain critical notes and important fill-in the blanks. Please record the important terms in your work bundle. You’ll need these notes to complete the work bundle First and last Name Science, Grade, Class

4. RED SLIDE: These slides contain critical notes and important fill-in the blanks. Please record the important terms in your work bundle. You’ll need these notes to complete the work bundle and to be successful on the review game. First and last Name Science, Grade, Class

5. Respect Safety Responsibility Make G ood C hoices Listen to the teacher and others. Please no shout outs. One speaker at a time. Please raise your hand. First, Last, and Always. Focus on Task completion Avoid Distractions Stay Organized Help Others Be Present Never Give Up! Science from Murf LLC

6. Most animal interactions are… - - -

7. Most animal interactions are… Competing for the same food supply. - -

8. Most animal interactions are… Competing for the same food supply. Eating (predation). -

9. Most animal interactions are… Competing for the same food supply. Eating (predation). Avoid being eaten (avoiding predation).

10. Most animal interactions are… Competing for the same food supply. Eating (predation). Avoid being eaten (avoiding predation). These are called… Limiting factors

11. Most animal interactions are… Competing for the same food supply. Eating (predation). Avoid being eaten (avoiding predation). These are called… Limiting factors

12. Most animal interactions are… Competing for the same food supply. Eating (predation). Avoid being eaten (avoiding predation). These are called… Limiting factors

13. Most animal interactions are… Competing for the same food supply. Eating (predation). Avoid being eaten (avoiding predation). These are called… Limiting factors Density Dependent or Density Independent?

14. Most animal interactions are… Competing for the same food supply. Eating (predation). Avoid being eaten (avoiding predation). Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC These are called… Limiting factors Density Dependent

15. Most animal interactions are… Competing for the same food supply. Eating (predation). Avoid being eaten (avoiding predation). Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC These are called… Limiting factors Density Dependent (Living / Biotic Factors)

16. Video Link. Hank explains Community Ecology. Watch first 9 minutes today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxE1SSqbSn4 Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC Review

17. Food Webs – Who eats whom. Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC

18. Food Webs – Who eats whom. Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC

19. Food Web: A complex network of many interconnected food chains and feeding interactions. Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC

20. Activity! Creating a food web with string and roles. Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC

21. Activity! Creating a food web with string and roles. Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC

22. Food Web Roles – Choose one and record on note card with a picture. - Producers Grass Leaves Shrubs Seeds Fruit Stems Wood Roots - Consumers Rabbit Grasshopper Bird Mouse Fox Deer Coyote Hawk Beetle Snake - Decomposers Bacteria Worms Fungus Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC

23. Caution! Use a hook, test tube holder, clothes hanger, or other device to hold the strings.

24. Caution! Use a hook, test tube holder, clothes hanger, or other device to hold the strings. Students will need To be quiet as Teacher connects String to the correct organisms

25. Caution! Use a hook, test tube holder, clothes hanger, or other device to hold the strings.

26. Food Webs Directions We will sit in a circle and then one at a time the teacher will go around the circle and hook the string to you and then the species you eat. Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC

27. Food Webs Directions We will sit in a circle and then one at a time the teacher will go around the circle and hook the string to you and then the species you eat. Example – Hawk eats rodent so gives string to rodent. Hawk may eat a snake so string goes from the rodent back to the hawk and then to the snake. Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC

28. Food Webs Directions We will sit in a circle and then one at a time the teacher will go around the circle and hook the string to you and then the species you eat. Example – Hawk eats rodent so gives string to rodent. Hawk may eat a snake so string goes from the rodent back to the hawk and then to the snake. Example – Rodent eats grass so gives string to grass. Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC

29. Food Webs Directions We will sit in a circle and then one at a time the teacher will go around the circle and hook the string to you and then the species you eat. Example – Hawk eats rodent so gives string to rodent. Hawk may eat a snake so string goes from the rodent back to the hawk and then to the snake. Example – Rodent eats grass so gives string to grass. Throw large flat object (broom) on web to see if it is strong. Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC

30. Food Webs Directions We will sit in a circle and then one at a time the teacher will go around the circle and hook the string to you and then the species you eat. Example – Hawk eats rodent so gives string to rodent. Hawk may eat a snake so string goes from the rodent back to the hawk and then to the snake. Example – Rodent eats grass so gives string to grass. Throw large flat object (broom) on web to see if it is strong. Remove some critical species or habitat at end by cutting their strings with a scissors. Repeat toss of large object once key species have been removed. Copyright © 2024 SlideSpark LLC Students will need t o be quiet as t eacher connects s tring to the correct organisms

31. Question! What happened to the food web when critical species were removed?

32. Answer: The food web fell apart. So did the health of the ecosystem.

33. Answer: The food web fell apart. So did the health of the ecosystem. Note: Humans need these species for our survival and services they perform.

34. Answer: The food web fell apart. So did the health of the ecosystem. Note: Humans need these species for our survival and services they perform. Learn more about food webs at… http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/food-web/?ar_a=1

35. What happens to the species when we change t his ecosystem to pavement?

36. Video Link. Food Webs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtb3I8Vzlfg Easy

37. Video Link. Hank explains ecosystems. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6ubvEJ3KGM Advanced

38. Food Webs Part 1 Lesson 9